Volcano Minute is a weekly audio activity or science update produced by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates. Although the earthquake looked like it happened on Mauna Loa based on its map location, it actually occurred beneath Mauna Loa and the Island of Hawaiʻi, in the Pacific Plate—about 14 miles below sea level. The earthquake was caused by the Pacific Plate bending under the immense weight of the Hawaiian Islands. These flexure earthquakes can be felt far and wide because the basaltic crust carries seismic energy extremely well in the Pacific Plate.  Since 1950, there have been 12 earthquakes in Hawaii magnitude-6 or larger. Many of these earthquakes, including the damaging magnitude-6.7 Kīholo Bay earthquake in 2006, occurred because of the Pacific Plate flexing from the weight of the Hawaiian Islands.…